Does anyone know if it Is okay to colour my hair while on Ribociclib and Letrozole? I have a lot of thinning and would like to go short and colour the grey.
Thank you.
Hi @michellem55
I am currently on Letrozole but am also on Abemaciclib rather than Ribociclib, so I hope this will be at least partially helpful.
After my hair grew back following chemo it came back three or four shades darker than my natural colour. I had very long hair before it all went and decided to just have fun and experiment with the regrowth as soon as enough grew back to play with. I would never have dyed or cut my hair (even though I was always doing so when I was in school!) so I’m seeing all this as something that pushed me out of my comfort zone to experiment.
Anyway, I decided to go lighter but knew that no hairdresser would bleach my delicate regrowth, so looked around for a gentle ammonia-free option and found Tints of Nature. I used their lightening kit both before and since I started on the Letrozole and Abemaciclib, followed by different blonde dyes, and have got on fine with all of them. They contain hydrogen peroxide but lots of natural and vegan ingredients to protect your scalp. The dyes do not have an overpowering chemical odour to make your eyes water either.
The brand also sells darker shades, permanent and semi-permanent, and even high fashion bold colours like pink and green! I tried the pink and it was a little too radical for me but perfect for a P!nk concert I was fortunate enough to attend in between my different treatments.
It is important to always do a skin and strand test in case of bad reactions and allergies, even if you have used hair dyes before.
I’m not sure if the medical experts would recommend using permanent hair colours whilst going through this treatment but from personal experience only, I have been absolutely fine. Both hair and scalp have been ok, and I haven’t seen any damage or breakage to my regrowth. I can highly recommend Tints of Nature, you can purchase directly from their website and delivery is super quick.
I have also used a Naturtint dye which I picked up in Holland & Barrett, that was also very gentle but that was before I lightened my hair and it was too dark to really notice much of a difference.
I would also recommend browsing around YouTube for hair dying advice and tutorials if you haven’t dyed your hair before and are doing it on your own. Brad Mondo’s channel has some tutorials and also hilarious react videos to other peoples’ hair fails!
Very best of luck with reclaiming your locks, do let us know how it turns out!
3 Likes
Hi @michellem55
I was on letrazole for 5 1/2 years and am now on ribociclib and fulvestrant.
I initially stopped using hair dye when I was going through primary breast cancer but I went back to it when I returned to work in 2017.
I only use semi-permanent hair cplour but its standard salon colour, though initially I insisted on paraban free etc.
I’ve not had any ptoblems but sometimes my scalp feels a bit sensitive for 24 hours. Just need a quick fix for the hair loss now lol
Regards
Jan
1 Like
Thanks so much for your reply Beck I will look on their website, I appreciate it.
1 Like
Thank you Jan, best wishes.
1 Like
Cancerhaircareuk is a great site to refer to. I grew back grey (salt and pepper) and had a temporary colour put on 3 months later. I have been on Abemaciclib and Letrozole since Feb 2023. I was advised by my hairdresser not to have any semi or permanent colour at first. I was also told you cant lift (lighten with bleach) fresh regrowth for a fewmonths so have returned to my normal natural colour by using a temp colour. Temp colour has lasted well ( had it coloured twice since feb 2023) and my curls are growing strong 
Had it snipped three times but now growing it a bit longer but seems to be slow due to Abemaciclib and Letrozole. Please take a look on cancerhaircare uk as all your questions will be answered. Xx
2 Likes
I don’t know about coloring but I justvwanted to say my experience about yhinning. My hair thinning from second cycle to about seventh/eight cycle, than started to grow back just as before, even if I still was on letrozole + ribociclib. I also read it happened to other women, after an year of cure stopped folling off.
Anyways best wishes, sorry I couldn’t help about the color…
1 Like
Thanks Teresa I will have a look.
1 Like
Thanks for replying Amel.
1 Like
Oh yes you’re right, I forgot to say that it was actually 5 months after I finished chemo that I started experimenting with the lightening colour. I had decided that, if it didn’t work or all went wrong I wasn’t sentimental about just buzzing it all off and going back to the head scarfs for a while, but of course I would never recommend anyone else be that cavalier especially on already thinning hair.
I would recommend everyone to always do a skin and strand test before every new hair dying process, especially if you’re taking the risk like I did.
Like you I have noticed really slowly growing especially around the hair line, and even more so now I’m on the Abemaciclib and Letrozole. I’m hoping it won’t get noticeably thinner but, again if it does I still have all my chemo scarfs to cover up with.
It’s great to hear your curls are now growing strong and it’s amazing how long temporary colour actually ends up lasting! I hope the strong growth continues, even if a little slower due to the meds 
2 Likes
Hi Michell I’m on Letrozole and I colour my hair every 8-10 weeks without any problems.
1 Like
Hi,
I went to the hairdressers every 2 months to get my hair coloured whilst on Ribo and fulvestrant for 4 years. Never any issues. My hair was thinnest at about 9 months in, but recovered after that.
All the best
1 Like
Thanks Sue that’s good to know.
Thanks for that - good to know.
Hi there,
I was on both drugs for approx. 18 months and I did highlights all the way through, the only thing my hair dresser did was not put me under the dry to accelerate the colour. It took a little longer but was worth it as it made me feel better and gave me some lift to the thinning hair. Hope that helps.
1 Like
It does help thank you.